What is acute respiratory distress syndrome?
What is acute respiratory distress syndrome? Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a serious medical condition where the lungs become severely inflamed and filled with fluid, making it difficult for oxygen to pass into the blood. It is a life-threatening emergency that usually requires treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU) . Definition of ARDS ARDS stands for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome . It is a condition in which the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs become damaged and leak fluid, preventing normal oxygen exchange. This leads to severe breathing difficulty and low oxygen levels in the body. Causes of ARDS ARDS is usually triggered by another illness or injury , iincluding 🔹 Direct lung injuries: Pneumonia Inhalation of toxic fumes or smoke Aspiration (inhaling vomit or food into lungs) Near drowning 🔹 Indirect causes (through the bloodstream): Sepsis (serious blood infection) Severe trauma or injury Pancreatitis Multi...